Evaluating Impacts of CSS for Veterans and Their Families in Ukraine

CETA Short Session (CSS) is a brief, low-intensity psychosocial intervention incorporating foundational components of the Common Elements Treatment Approach (CETA). CETA is an 8-12 session, transdiagnostic psychotherapy for common mental disorders. CSS was designed to serve as both a prevention/support approach for a broader range of needs, as well as an engagement/outreach strategy to identify and refer individuals to treatment. CSS is delivered in a group format over approximately two hours and consists of: 1) Psychoeducation: instruction about the brain and brain functioning, including normalization of psychological responses to stress and a brief self-assessment; 2) Safety: screening and referral for individuals identified as at risk of harm to self or others; and 3) Cognitive coping: based on the cognitive triangle, participants practice identifying an unhelpful thought changing it to a more helpful alternative, and examining how these thoughts impact feelings and behaviors.

This intervention is the same as CSS with the exception that the cognitive coping skill training is removed.